League of Women Voters Missoula

History of the Missoula League

The League of Women Voters of Missoula was the first local league in Montana. Formed as a provisional league in 1951, it gained full status the following year. Many of the Missoula members helped to revive the defunct 1920 League of Women Voters of Montana in 1955 and served as its first officers.

The League's efforts and resulting respected reputation in the community hinge on its mission: "to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government."

Througout our history, members have studies issues, reached consensus and formed positions, and used those positions to take action. Members have actively supported a city-manager form of government (1956) city-county consolidation (1961) a state constitutional convention and ratification of a new Montana Constitution (1972), standards for good government (1981), self-governing powers for the city of Missoula (1976 and 1996), formation of neighborhood councils (1996), guidelines for government if and when privatizing government services (2001), measures to protect the Missoula aquifer from contamination, and support for the City of Missoula to purchase its water system in 2013.

Our Mission today:

Voter education and encouragement are THE core mission of the League. The Missoula League has produced for 30 years, first in print and now on the web, the "Guide to Government for the Missoula Area Voter." The Guide can be found here:

The League registers citizens to vote and encourages active voting by all eligible citizens.

As citizen support for government has declined over the years, the League's mission "to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government", remains even more relevant today.

Upcoming events:

For a listing of upcoming events with the Missoula League go to the link below and look for Missoula events: